What’s the Best Contraception If I Have a Partner With a Penis and One With a Vagina?
If you have partners with different bodies, whether you’re queer, bisexual, pansexual, polyamorous, non-monogamous, or just figuring things out, it’s completely normal to wonder what contraception you actually need. There isn’t one single “best” option. For many people, the answer is using different methods for different situations. Think about what you’re trying to prevent Contraception […]
How Do You Tell Someone You’ve Got an STI?
Finding out you have an STI can be stressful enough, telling someone else about it can feel even harder. You might be worried about awkwardness, rejection, or being judged. You might even feel embarrassed or ashamed. Let’s be clear from the start: having an STI is common, treatable, and nothing to be ashamed of. First: […]
How to Talk About What You Want in Bed (Without Feeling Embarrassed)
Let’s be honest, talking about sex can feel awkward. Even if you’re confident in other parts of your life, saying what you like (or don’t like) in bed can bring up embarrassment, nerves, or the fear of “making it weird”. The good news? You’re not bad at communication, you’re just human. And it does get […]
Can Contraception Help With Things Other Than Pregnancy?
When most people think about contraception, preventing pregnancy is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But did you know that many types of contraception can also help with other health issues; like acne, painful periods, and conditions such as endometriosis or PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)? Contraception isn’t one-size-fits-all, and some methods can have […]
What Happens If I Miss One Pill? Or Two? Or a Whole Pack?
Life happens. Alarms get ignored. Packs get left at home. And suddenly you’re staring at your pill strip thinking, “Wait… did I take that yesterday?” First things first: missing a pill is common and it doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to get pregnant. What matters is how many you’ve missed, what type of pill you’re […]
Can You Catch the Same STI Twice?
Short answer: yes, you absolutely can and it happens more often than people realise. A lot of people think that once you’ve had an STI and been treated, you’re “immune” or safe from getting it again. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. You can catch the same STI more than once, even if you’ve been […]
Sex, Safety and Being Yourself: Let’s Talk About It
Talking about sex, relationships and identity can feel awkward but it really shouldn’t. Whether you’re just starting to figure things out, in a relationship, or just curious, you deserve honest information, no judgement and real support. At Suffolk Sexual Health Service, young people ask us about all sorts of things from consent and body confidence […]
Can You Still Get STIs If You’re in a Same-Gender Relationship?
There’s a common myth that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) only affect people in heterosexual relationships, but that’s simply not true. Anyone, regardless of gender or sexuality, can get an STI if they’re sexually active. Talking openly about sexual health in same-gender relationships matters, because too often, these conversations go unspoken. STIs Don’t Discriminate STIs like […]
What’s the Difference Between HIV and AIDS – And Why Does Language Matter?
You’ve probably heard the terms HIV and AIDS used together, sometimes even as if they mean the same thing. But they don’t. Understanding the difference is important, not just for accuracy, but because the words we use can shape how people living with HIV are treated and perceived. What Is HIV? HIV stands for Human […]
Fundoms…still as safe as a regular condom?
At Suffolk Sexual Health Service, we provide a variety of different free condoms such as; Flavoured condoms (chocolate, mint, strawberry) Textured condoms (ribbed and dotted) Heat reactive condoms (ones that will give off a cool or warm sensation) And of course, our famous glow in the dark condoms These are usually only given out by […]
